Space Suit Maker Hires Dickstein for Earthbound Lobbying Needs

With Dickstein Shapiro as its guide, the maker of NASA space suits has returned to the world of Washington lobbying.

ILC Dover LP has hired Dickstein to "[m]onitor legislative and administrative action related to federal and private sector employee safety policies," according to lobbying registration paperwork filed with Congress on Monday. Dickstein is the first firm to lobby for ILC since Thelen stopped advocating for the company in 2002, according to congressional records.

Former Senator Tim Hutchinson (R-Ark.), who is a senior adviser at Dickstein, and Curt Clifton, a senior legislative adviser who leads the firm's tactical revenue solutions practice, are handling the account.

An assistant to Hutchinson and Clifton directed a request for comment to Dickstein spokeswoman Michelle Rodgers, who wasn't immediately available for comment. ILC spokesman Doug Durney also wasn't immediately available for comment.

Located at 1 Moonwalker Road in Frederica, Del., ILC has designed and produced every NASA space suit since the Apollo program. The company also manufactured the airbag landing systems for the Mars Pathfinder and Mars Exploration Rover, and continues to make blimps and biological and chemical protection equipment, among other products.